Wastewater treatment systems and related methods

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to wastewater treatment systems with decentralized disposal of treated wastewater and methods of using the same. The invention further relates to methods of converting existing septic systems to a wastewater treatment plant system.

STATEMENT OF PRIORITY

This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/620,810, filed Feb. 12, 2015, the entirecontents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to wastewater treatment, systems withdecentralized disposal of treated wastewater and methods of using thesame. The invention further relates to methods of converting existingseptic systems to a wastewater treatment plant system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The treatment of wastewater and sewage often involves the use of septicsystems, particularly in rural areas and barrier islands where municipalwastewater treatment plants are not available. However, septic systemshave several negative features, including the need for regular,maintenance pumping and treatment, the risk of septic backup intoresidences, the potential for environmental contamination, and theconcern about rising water table levels near the coast due to rising sealevels.

Wastewater treatment plants avoid the risks associated with septicsystems but have negative features of their own, particularly the needfor large land areas for disposal of treated wastewater.

The present invention overcomes shortcomings in the art by providingwastewater treatment systems with decentralized disposal of treatedwastewater as well as methods of converting existing septic systems to awastewater treatment plant system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for wastewatertreatment and decentralized disposal of the treated wastewater. Thepresent invention farther provides a system and method for convertingexisting septic wastewater systems to a wastewater treatment plantsystem.

In one aspect, the present, invention relates to a wastewater treatmentsystem comprising:

-   a wastewater source;-   an outlet line fluidly connecting the wastewater source to a    wastewater treatment plant;-   an inlet line fluidly connecting the wastewater treatment plant to a    holding tank for treated wastewater, wherein the holding tank is    located at or adjacent to the wastewater source; and-   a distribution line fluidly connecting the holding tank to a treated    wastewater use recipient.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method fortreating wastewater, the method comprising:

-   transporting wastewater from a wastewater source through an outlet    line to a wastewater treatment plant;-   treating the wastewater at the wastewater treatment plant to produce    treated wastewater;-   transporting the treated wastewater through an inlet line to a    holding tank for treated wastewater, wherein the holding tank is    located at or adjacent to the, wastewater source; and-   distributing the treated wastewater through a distribution line to a    treated wastewater use recipient.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method forconverting an existing septic wastewater system to a wastewatertreatment plant system, the method comprising:

-   converting a septic tank to a treated wastewater holding tank;-   fluidly connecting an outlet line from a wastewater source to a    wastewater treatment plant;-   fluidly connecting an inlet line from the wastewater treatment plant    to the treated wastewater holding tank, wherein the holding tank is    located at or adjacent to the wastewater source; and-   fluidly connecting a distribution line from the holding tank to a    treated wastewater use recipient.

These and other aspects of the invention are set forth in more detail inthe description of the invention below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art septic wastewater system.

FIG. 2 shows a wastewater treatment system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in more detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown. In the drawings, the relative sizes ofregions or features may be exaggerated for clarity. This invention may,however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed aslimited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodimentsare provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, andwill fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in theart.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“coupled” or “connected” to another element, it can be directly coupledor connected to the other element or intervening elements may also bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlycoupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are nointervening elements present. Like numbers refer to like elementsthroughout.

In addition, spatially relative terms, such as “under,” “below,” “lower”“over,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will beunderstood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of the device in use or operation in addition tothe orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device inthe figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath”other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the otherelements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompassboth an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwiseoriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatiallyrelative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail forbrevity and/or clarity.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, it is specifically intended thatthe various features of the invention described herein can be used inany combination. Moreover, the present invention also contemplates thatin some embodiments of the invention, any feature or combination offeatures set forth herein can be excluded or omitted. To illustrate, ifthe specification states that a system or method comprises components orsteps A, B and C, it is specifically intended that any of A, B or C, ora combination thereof, can be omitted and disclaimed singularly or inany combination.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in thedescription of the invention herein is for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of theinvention.

As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are, intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Also as used herein, “and/or” refers to and encompasses any and allpossible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, aswell as the lack of combinations when interpreted in the alternative(“or”).

The term “about,” as used herein when referring to a measurable valuesuch as distance or volume, is meant to encompass variations of ±20%,±10%, ±5%, ±1%, ±0.5%, or even ±0.1% of the specified amount.

The transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” means that the scopeof a claim is to be interpreted, to encompass the specified materials orsteps recited in the claim, “and those that do not materially affect thebasic and novel characteristic(s)” of the claimed invention. See, In reHerz, 537 F.2d 549, 551-52, 190 USPQ 461, 463 (CCPA 1976) (emphasis inthe original); see also MPEP §2111.03.

The term “wastewater” or “sewage,” as used herein, refers to water thathas been used for bathing, toilets, cooking, dishwashing, clotheswashing, etc., or industrial processes that is discharged fromresidences, commercial buildings, and other structures.

The term “treated wastewater,” as used herein, refers to wastewater thathas been treated in a manner such that it can be safely used fornon-potable purposes, such as irrigation.

The present invention relates to a system and method for wastewatertreatment and decentralized disposal of the treated wastewater. Thepresent invention further provides a system and method for convertingexisting septic wastewater systems to a wastewater treatment plantsystem, e.g., a wastewater treatment plant disposal system that combinesthe advantages of a wastewater treatment plant with the advantages ofdecentralized disposal of the treated wastewater. The present inventionprovides a system in which the disposal of treated wastewater includesboth surface disposal (e.g., irrigation) and sub-surface disposal (e.g.,more than 6 inches below the surface, such as a drainfield). The systemthereby avoids typical municipal restrictions on surface disposal. Thepresent invention advantageously avoids the need for a large centralizedarea for disposal of treated wastewater, preserves open green space,reduces potable water consumption (thereby reducing costs), takesadvantage of existing disposal systems, avoids the negative aspects ofseptic systems (including health risks associated with contaminatedstanding surface water, the concern of septic backup in structures, theexpense of maintenance pumping and regular treatment of septic tanks),and reduces concern about the rise of the water table due to rising sealevels.

Thus, one aspect of the invention relates to wastewater treatment systemcomprising:

-   a wastewater source;-   an outlet line fluidly connecting the wastewater source to a    wastewater treatment plant;-   an inlet line fluidly connecting the wastewater treatment plant to a    holding tank for treated wastewater, wherein the holding tank is    located at or adjacent to, the wastewater source; and-   a distribution line fluidly connecting the holding tank to a treated    wastewater use recipient.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method fortreating wastewater, the method comprising:

-   transporting wastewater from a wastewater source through an outlet    line to a wastewater treatment plant;-   treating the wastewater at the wastewater treatment plant to produce    treated wastewater;-   transporting the treated wastewater through an inlet line to a    holding tank for treated wastewater, wherein the holding tank is    located at or adjacent to the wastewater source; and-   distributing the treated wastewater through a distribution line to a    treated wastewater use recipient.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method forconverting an existing septic wastewater system to a wastewatertreatment plant system, the method comprising:

-   converting a septic tank to a treated wastewater holding tank;-   fluidly connecting an outlet line from a wastewater source to a    wastewater treatment plant;-   fluidly connecting an inlet line from the wastewater treatment plant    to the treated wastewater holding tank, wherein the holding tank is    located at or adjacent to the wastewater source; and-   fluidly connecting a distribution line from the holding tank to a    treated wastewater use recipient.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art septic tank system in which a wastewatersource is connected to a septic tank which is connected to a drain fieldor leachfield.

The system and methods of the present invention are illustrated in FIG.2. The wastewater source may be any structure 30 that produceswastewater. Examples include, without limitation, residences, commercialbuildings, government buildings, schools, churches, hotels, and thelike. The system may include multiple wastewater sources all directly orindirectly connected to the wastewater treatment, plant, e.g., 2, 5, 10,25, 50. 100, 500, 1000, or more wastewater sources. In some embodiments,most or all of the wastewater structures within a certain distance of awastewater treatment plant are connected to the plant, e.g., most or allof the wastewater structures within 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or more milesof the plant. In some embodiments, the wastewater source may be thestructure that generates the wastewater. In other embodiments, thewastewater source may be adjacent to the structure that generates thewastewater (e.g., on the same property) and stores the wastewatergenerated by the structure (e.g., a septic tank or storage tank).

The wastewater treatment plant 10 may be any type of plant suitable fortreating wastewater known in the art. The plants may carry outwastewater pretreatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, and/ortertiary treatment, and may include one or more processes and mechanismsfor sedimentation, filtration, lagooning, removal of nutrients,nitrogen, and/or phosphorus, disinfection, and odor control.

Wastewater generated at the structure 30 is transported through theoutlet line 20 to the wastewater treatment plant 10. The outlet line 20may be connected directly to the structure 30 or, indirectly through aseptic tank or storage tank that collects the wastewater from thestructure 30. In certain embodiments, the solids in the wastewater areseparated in the septic tank or storage tank and only the liquidwastewater is transported to the wastewater treatment plant. At theplant the wastewater is treated using techniques known in the art toproduce treated wastewater reclaimed water). The treated wastewater isthen transported through inlet line 40 to a holding tank for treatedwastewater 50 which is located at or adjacent to the wastewater source.The holding tank 50 may be, in, under, or on the structure that is thewastewater source or may be adjacent to the wastewater source, e.g., onthe same property as the wastewater source. In certain embodiments, theholding tank 50 may be located within about 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70,80, 90, or 100 yards of the structure 30. In some embodiments, a holdingtank 50 may not be provided for every wastewater source. Instead, asingle holding tank 50 may be provided for use with multiple wastewatersources, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 or more wastewater sources.

In some embodiments, the treated wastewater transported to the holdingtank 50 may be produced from the same wastewater transported from thestructure 30 to the wastewater treatment plant 10. In other embodiments,treated wastewater transported to the holding tank 50 may be producedfrom wastewater from multiple structures mixed together at or on the wayto the wastewater treatment plant 10. The amount of treated wastewatertransported to the holding tank 50 may be the same as, more, or lessthan the amount of wastewater transported to the wastewater treatmentplant 10 from structure 30.

The treated wastewater in the holding tank 50 is distributed through oneor more distribution lines 90 to one or more treated wastewater userecipients. In some embodiments, the treated wastewater in the holdingtank 50 is distributed through the distribution line 90 to an irrigationsystem, e.g., through an irrigation pump 100 so that the treatedwastewater is used to irrigate a lawn and/or landscaping 200 at oradjacent to the structure 30, e.g., using sprinklers, drip hoses, orother irrigation devices. In other embodiments, the treated wastewaterin the holding tank 50 is transported to the structure for non-potableuses, such as operating toilets. In other embodiments, the treatedwastewater in the holding tank 50 is used for other activities at oradjacent to the structure 30, such as car washing, power washing thestructure 30 or other items, and filling fountains or other waterfeatures.

In certain embodiments, the treated wastewater in the holding tank 50 istransported to a drainfield or leachfield 60 located at or adjacent tothe structure 30. The drainfield or leachfield 60 may be located next toor near a repair area 70. The repair area 70 is typically of a similarsize to the drainfield or leachfield 60 and may be used to install a newdrainfield or leachfield as needed. In some embodiments, the drainfieldor leachfield 60 and the repair area 70 may be part of an easement 80,e.g., as part of open space conservation.

In some embodiments, the holding tank 50 comprises multiple distributionlines so that treated wastewater may be transported to multiple treatedwastewater use recipients, either simultaneously or at different times.In certain embodiments, the treated wastewater in the holding tank 50 isdistributed to various treated wastewater use recipients as needed andis transported to the drainfield or lead field 60 only when the treatedwastewater amount in the holding tank 50 exceeds a specified amount.Such distribution may be controlled by, for example, a float switchassembly in the holding tank 50.

The outlet line 20, the inlet line 40, and the distribution line 90 maybe any type of fluid flow path and includes one or more of pipes, tubes,adapters, fittings, pumps, and valves. Transport of wastewater andtreated wastewater though the lines may be carried by any method knownin the art, and may include one or more of pressurized force, vacuumforce, and gravity. The outlet line 20, the inlet line 40, and thedistribution line 90 may be configured to control flow rate and/ordirection of the wastewater and/or treated wastewater, e.g., through theuse of valves, pumps, and controllers.

The outlet line 20, the inlet line 40, and/or the distribution line 90may comprise one or more flow meters 300 to measure the amount ofwastewater or treated wastewater passing through the lines.

The holding tank 50 may be made of concrete, plastic, or any othersuitable material, and, may be of any suitable size sufficient to holdtreated wastewater, e.g., about 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, or 10000 gallonsor more.

In some embodiments, the holding tank 50 may further be fitted withlines to receive, hold, and distribute water in addition to treatedwastewater. Examples include, without limitation, storm water, e.g.,collected from gutters or rain barrels on the structure 30, swimmingpools, fountains, and other water features.

In some embodiments, the wastewater treatment system may be one that isnewly built, e.g., at the same time as wastewater sources are built. Inother embodiments, the wastewater treatment system is built byconverting a preexisting wastewater system, such as a septic sewersystem, to the system of the present invention. The conversion may becarried out by replacing an existing septic tank with a treatedwastewater holding tank 50 or retrofitting an existing septic tank toconvert it to a treated wastewater holding tank 50. The system is thenestablished by connecting an outlet line 20 from the wastewater source30 to a wastewater treatment plant 10, connecting an inlet line 40 fromthe wastewater treatment plant 10 to the holding tank 50, and connectinga distribution line 90 from the holding tank to one or more treatedwastewater use recipients.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that numerous andvarious modifications can be made without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood thatthe forms of the present invention are illustrative only and are notintended to limit the scope of the present invention.

All publications, patent applications, patents, patent publications, andother references cited herein are incorporated by reference in theirentireties for the teachings relevant to the sentence and/or paragraphin which the reference is presented.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention, and is not to beconstrued as limiting thereof. The invention is defined by the followingclaims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for converting an existing septicwastewater system to a wastewater treatment plant system, the methodcomprising: converting a septic tank to a treated wastewater holdingtank; fluidly connecting an outlet line from a wastewater source to awastewater treatment plant; fluidly connecting an inlet line from thewastewater treatment plant to the treated wastewater holding tank,wherein the holding tank is located at or adjacent to the wastewatersource; and fluidly connecting a distribution line from the holding tankto a treated wastewater use recipient.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe wastewater source is at or adjacent to a residence, commercialbuilding, or school.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein multiplewastewater sources are fluidly connected to the wastewater treatmentplant.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wastewater use recipient isan irrigation system.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wastewateruse recipient is a toilet.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein thewastewater use recipient is a drainfield or leachfield.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the drainfield or leachfield further comprises a repairarea.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein transport through the outletline and/or the inlet line and/or the distribution line is controlled bypressurized force, gravity, and/or vacuum.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the outlet line and/or the inlet line and/or the distributionline comprises one or more pumps configured to transport the wastewaterand/or treated wastewater.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the outletline and/or the inlet line and/or the distribution line comprises one ormore valves configured to control the flow rate and/or direction of thewastewater and/or treated wastewater.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinthe outlet line and/or the inlet line and/or the distribution linecomprises one or more flow meters configured to measure, the amount ofwastewater and/or treated Wastewater being transported.
 12. The methodof claim 1, wherein the holding tank is fluidly connected to more thanone distribution line, and wherein at least one distribution line isfluidly connected to a drainfield or leachfield.